to encourge my friends, co workers, and church members to sponsor children through Compassion, be a better steward of the money God has entrusted me with, and not buy into the consumer lifestyle that I see all around me.

I got the idea from my folks. They’ve got a jar that goes toward their credit card bills; it took about 6 months to fill it up, and held almost $100! My jar is a little bit smaller, but it fits. It came from my mom’s trip to Japan when she was in the Red Cross, and since it’s oriental, it reminds me of my boy Gabriel (even though he’s in Indonesia, and the artwork there is likely a bit different).

…to continue to write once a month and include lots of pictures and stickers and other flat things.

…to continue to pray regularly for them.

I too like the jar idea. I have been collecting change for a few years and whenever my jar becomes full I pick something to use it for. Once it was a struggling family in my church, and once it was used as a family gift for one of my girls.

…to also continue to pray for each child and be faithful in letter writing. A while back someone mentioned that where we take letter writing so for granted perhaps some of these children have never written a letter and cannot do it with the ease that we do. Waiting for a response from our children before we reply will not really benefit them. I resolve to write whether MY mailbox is full or not. The change jar is a wonderful way to help as well.

My family has been cutting back in a lot of areas and I’ve been trying to do the same so I have more money to donate to my kids and their familes. We got rid of our DVR for the TV and I’ve been taking all my old books and cds and selling them to get some extra cash for this good cause. Just an idea. The change jar is also a good idea!